On Faith: Unity Center begins new Sunday spiritial gathering

Unity Center of Peace, an interfaith and New Thought spiritual community, has begun a new evening spiritual gathering called Enlighten Up! at 5 p.m. Sundays.

“Our new second service is not really a service, more of a spiritual experience,” said the Rev. Victoria Loveland-Coen, co-minister. “The evening will include group singing and silent meditation and a summary of the 11 a.m. inspirational talk with an opportunity for group discussion.

“We are extending this as a chance to gather in spirit for those who may prefer a more informal setting,” she said.

All are invited to connect with the Divine within themselves and each other through this casual, spiritual evening and afterward to stay for light snacks and refreshments.

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Unity Center of Peace, located at 8800 Seawell School Road in Chapel Hill, is part of the New Thought movement that embraces a positive path for spiritual living.

“We come together to center in Spirit, connect with other positive-minded people and to celebrate life,” the minister said.

Unity Center of Peace is a LGBT-friendly community. For more information, go to unitychapelhill.org or call 919-968-1854 Tuesday through Friday.

Greek Orthodox concert

The Triangle Orthodox Chorale will present a concert titled Sacred Orthodox Music of the Ecclesiastical Year at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The concert will be directed by Elia Nicholas and feature organist Irina Monzolevskaya. The 40-voice chorale will perform a selection of hymns celebrating major Christian holy days. The hymns will be sung in the original Greek, with English translations provided.

Some of the musical arrangements are by contemporary composers, although the poignant and timeless lyrics date to the first millennium after Christ. The chorale includes choir members from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox in Raleigh, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte, All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cary as well as Saint Barbara.

A $15 donation is suggested. Proceeds will benefit the chorale's ministry and Saint Barbara's building fund.

Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and seating is limited. A reception in the fellowship hall will follow the concert.

The church is located one-half mile south of I-40 Exit 274 at 8306 N.C. 751.

Mother’s Day program

Terrell's Creek Baptist Church, 3419 Old Greensboro Road, will hoold its annual Mothers Day Program on Sunday.

The featured speaker at the 11 a.m. service will be Lisa Dunston, the wife of the pastor, the Rev. Claude Dunston. She is a mother and spiritual leader.

The program will celebrate women in the church and community for their positive influences in nurturing and guiding children and youth.

All are welcome.

And the children shall lead

Worshipers at University United Methodist Church, 150 E. Franklin St., had a special treat last Sunday when nearly 60 children in grades K-5 led the 11 a.m. worship service.

The children’s choirs shared the story of Noah through song and Scripture as they presented “100 Percent Chance of Rain,” a jazz cantata composed by Walter Horsley and directed by Rebecca Dyck.

“The musical doesn’t really focus on the animals,” said Dyck, the church’s director of choirs for children. “It’s about Noah’s relationship with God and him as a holy person versus the nasty stuff going on in the world. It’s about why the flood had to happen, the world being washed clean. The focus is the rain, cleaning everything up and providing for a new start.

“The last couple of lines are kind of ironic. They're between Noah and his wife, saying, ‘Surely, people won't forget this! This will give us a new start and nobody will be wicked ever again.’ That's the message of the musical. We need to be righteous people. We need to do the best in the world and then when there’s a re-set, we need to get right again and try again,” she said.